EXPANDABLE RECEPTACLE
United States Patent 3618829
A receptacle having accordion folding in the top portion which functions both as a means to allow compression and expansion of the receptacle from variations of ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure and for evacuating the contents of the receptacle through a discharge nozzle at the top of the accordion folding.
US Patent References:
Moldable cone bellows
Greene - December 1956 - 2774518
Valve for liquid containers
Albert et al. - July 1968 - 3392886
Flexible water dispensing bottle
Nave et al. - July 1956 - 2755972
Pleated dispenser
DuBois - March 1957 - 2784882
Squeeze-to-use type container
Root - April 1961 - 2981444
Moldable cone bellows
Greene - December 1956 - 2774518
Valve for liquid containers
Albert et al. - July 1968 - 3392886
Flexible water dispensing bottle
Nave et al. - July 1956 - 2755972
Pleated dispenser
DuBois - March 1957 - 2784882
Squeeze-to-use type container
Root - April 1961 - 2981444
Inventors:
Elmore, Austin E. (Scottsdale, AZ)
Uhlmann, Ernest A. (Phoenix, AZ)
Uhlmann, Ernest A. (Phoenix, AZ)
Application Number:
04/767340
Publication Date:
11/09/1971
Filing Date:
10/14/1968
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
222/212, 222/531, 222/211, 222/320
International Classes:
B05B11/04; B65D1/32; G01F11/08; B65D1/00; G01F11/02; B65D37/00
Field of Search:
222/211,212,526,531,536,537,215,206,209,320
US Patent References:
| 3323689 | Dispensing bottle | June 1967 | Elmore |
Primary Examiner:
Reeves, Robert B.
Assistant Examiner:
Handren, Frederick R.
Claims:
We claim
1. An expandable receptacle comprising in combination:
2. An expandable receptacle as in claim 1 wherein the combined nozzle and shutoff valve includes:
1. An expandable receptacle comprising in combination:
2. An expandable receptacle as in claim 1 wherein the combined nozzle and shutoff valve includes:
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The field of this invention lies in flexible plastic containers or receptacles and is particularly directed to such containers having an accordion-folded portion to prevent change in the normal configuration of the container due to temperature and atmospheric pressure changes and also to provide a means for evacuating the contents of the container by squeezing and contracting the accordion portion of the bottle.
Heretofore, flexible plastic containers have been deformed from their true shape into unsightly configurations due to ambient temperature and atmospheric fluctuations rendering them unsightly and unacceptable for storage and display purposes.
Further, the expansion of the contents in such receptacles has been caused to leak through the closure cap when the elastic limit of the receptacle has been reached.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One of the objects of this invention is to construct a flexible, pliable receptacle which maintains its shape under all conditions of temperature and atmospheric pressure variations.
Another object is to provide a flexible plastic receptacle as above described which can accommodate itself without deformation of its shape for pressure variations within the storage chamber of the receptacle.
And it is a further object to provide a receptacle having the above features, which features further function as a pumping device for evacuating the contents of the bottle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a receptacle incorporating the features of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the receptacle shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view partly in section on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3, showing the nozzle in open discharge position.
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the nozzle in closed, shutoff position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As an example of one embodiment of this invention, there is shown a receptacle in the form of a bottle having a bottom 10 and integrally connected upstanding cylindrical portion 11 to the top of which is integrally formed the accordion-folding portion 12. A diaphragm 13 closes the top opening of the accordion-folding portion 12 centrally of which is formed the threaded neck 14.
A cap 15 threadedly fits on the neck 14 and seals securely against the lip 16 of the neck 14 of the receptacle.
Formed integrally with a depending downwardly from the cap 15 is the intake pipe 17 to which is connected the flexible suction hose 18 which extends downwardly with its lower open end 20 being supported at all times in the corner 19 formed by the bottom 10 and the upstanding cylindrical portion 11. One or more transverse openings 21 may be provided in the tube 18 closely adjacent to the end 20.
A combined nozzle and shutoff valve 22 has a discharge spout 23 and a manipulating web 24 for rotating the nozzle 22. The nozzle 22 has a cylindrical shank 22a rotatable and sealingly fitting in the passageway bore 25 formed in the cap 15 and communicating with the passageway 26 formed in the intake pipe 17. A cutaway portion 27 in the shank 22a allows intercommunication between the passageway 26 and the passageway 28 in the nozzle 22 when turned to normal discharge position shown in FIG. 4.
When the nozzle 22 is turned 180° to closed shutoff position to seal the contents in the container, as shown in FIG. 5, passageway 28 is disconnected from communication with passageway 26.
Normally, with the nozzle 22 turned to open position, FIG. 4, the bottle assumes the broken-line position shown in FIG. 2. Under these conditions the top of the container may be alternately squeezed down to the full line position of FIG. 2 and released for discharging the container contents out through the nozzle 22. When the nozzle is turned to closed-off position, FIG. 5, temperature and atmospheric pressure effects on the bottle are automatically compensated for by the same movement of the bellows 12, as when discharging the contents from the bottle so that the cylindrical portion 11 of the bottle remains in its normal shape and form and does not become caved in or bulged out during shipping or storage as atmospheric temperatures and pressures vary.
The field of this invention lies in flexible plastic containers or receptacles and is particularly directed to such containers having an accordion-folded portion to prevent change in the normal configuration of the container due to temperature and atmospheric pressure changes and also to provide a means for evacuating the contents of the container by squeezing and contracting the accordion portion of the bottle.
Heretofore, flexible plastic containers have been deformed from their true shape into unsightly configurations due to ambient temperature and atmospheric fluctuations rendering them unsightly and unacceptable for storage and display purposes.
Further, the expansion of the contents in such receptacles has been caused to leak through the closure cap when the elastic limit of the receptacle has been reached.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One of the objects of this invention is to construct a flexible, pliable receptacle which maintains its shape under all conditions of temperature and atmospheric pressure variations.
Another object is to provide a flexible plastic receptacle as above described which can accommodate itself without deformation of its shape for pressure variations within the storage chamber of the receptacle.
And it is a further object to provide a receptacle having the above features, which features further function as a pumping device for evacuating the contents of the bottle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a receptacle incorporating the features of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the receptacle shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view partly in section on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3, showing the nozzle in open discharge position.
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the nozzle in closed, shutoff position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As an example of one embodiment of this invention, there is shown a receptacle in the form of a bottle having a bottom 10 and integrally connected upstanding cylindrical portion 11 to the top of which is integrally formed the accordion-folding portion 12. A diaphragm 13 closes the top opening of the accordion-folding portion 12 centrally of which is formed the threaded neck 14.
A cap 15 threadedly fits on the neck 14 and seals securely against the lip 16 of the neck 14 of the receptacle.
Formed integrally with a depending downwardly from the cap 15 is the intake pipe 17 to which is connected the flexible suction hose 18 which extends downwardly with its lower open end 20 being supported at all times in the corner 19 formed by the bottom 10 and the upstanding cylindrical portion 11. One or more transverse openings 21 may be provided in the tube 18 closely adjacent to the end 20.
A combined nozzle and shutoff valve 22 has a discharge spout 23 and a manipulating web 24 for rotating the nozzle 22. The nozzle 22 has a cylindrical shank 22a rotatable and sealingly fitting in the passageway bore 25 formed in the cap 15 and communicating with the passageway 26 formed in the intake pipe 17. A cutaway portion 27 in the shank 22a allows intercommunication between the passageway 26 and the passageway 28 in the nozzle 22 when turned to normal discharge position shown in FIG. 4.
When the nozzle 22 is turned 180° to closed shutoff position to seal the contents in the container, as shown in FIG. 5, passageway 28 is disconnected from communication with passageway 26.
Normally, with the nozzle 22 turned to open position, FIG. 4, the bottle assumes the broken-line position shown in FIG. 2. Under these conditions the top of the container may be alternately squeezed down to the full line position of FIG. 2 and released for discharging the container contents out through the nozzle 22. When the nozzle is turned to closed-off position, FIG. 5, temperature and atmospheric pressure effects on the bottle are automatically compensated for by the same movement of the bellows 12, as when discharging the contents from the bottle so that the cylindrical portion 11 of the bottle remains in its normal shape and form and does not become caved in or bulged out during shipping or storage as atmospheric temperatures and pressures vary.